Saturday, June 27, 2009

During the course of our Weather on the Ones forecasts, we inform you of the UV index for the day and give you information regarding how many minutes you may have, on the average, until you might be at risk for a sunburn or skin damage. Because it may take a shorter amount of time for some folks to burn due to skin type, I personally give the time thats more geared toward fairer-skinned types since thats at the shortest end of the time scale.

But what if you are *not* in that category? Well, that is why I have placed this chart from the National Weather Service (and its accompanying link) here for you. Skin damage is still a risk for everyone in the summer months, but this way you can get a better idea of how long you can be outside before having to re-apply sunscreen, cover up, or get to some shade!

There is also some great information provided by the EPA : http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/actionsteps.html this site has action steps you can take to keep your skin safer in the sun, and a widget for your homepage that can give you the UV index for your particular zip code: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uviresources.html

The UV index outlook for NC this last weekend of June: in the high range, which means for fairer-skinned types, about 10-15 minutes outside without sunscreen before you'll put yourself at risk for skin damage.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

We are now almost a month into the 2009 hurricane season. So far, there has not been much activity in the Atlantic Basin, but that is not all that unusual. Find out more in today's video blog posted below...

Summer is the peak time to enjoy the outdoors, but it is also the peak time for exposing oneself to the dangers of lightning. At any given moment, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on the earth. This amounts to 16 million storms each year! Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length, soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain 100 million electrical volts.

As a storm forms, ice particles move about inside the cloud. The positively-charged crystals migrate to the top of the thunderstorm while you'll find the majority of negatively-charged particles near the bottom of the cloud. Lightning can originate from the top or the bottom of the cloud, and while you might not often hear the phrase 'negative lightning' during the course of our weather coverage, you will hear us use the phrase 'Positive lightning' when flashes, depicted with a purple lightning bolt, show up on our radar. You'll hear us say that positive lightning is particularly dangerous.

Positive lightning is particularly dangerous for several reasons. It frequently strikes away from the rain core, either ahead or behind the thunderstorm. It can strike as far as 5 or 10 miles from the storm, in areas that most people do not consider to be a lightning risk area. The other problem with positive lightning is it typically has a longer duration, so fires are more easily ignited. Positive lightning usually carries a high peak electrical current, which increases the lightning risk to an individual.

I'm a huge fan of the research done by Dr. Mary Ann Cooper of the University of Illinois (Bio: http://www.uic.edu/labs/lightninginjury/macbio.htm ). She has managed to find differences in the way lightning injures a person versus direct or alternating electrical current exposure. She has also identified particular ways that lightning can injure an individual. Knowledge of these differences by an emergency physician can make a difference, especially if you are unable to speak for yourself after being injured by lightning.

She cites 6 ways by which lightning may injure an individual:

1) Direct strike (approximately 3-5% of injuries)2) Side splash from another object (approximately 30% of injuries)3) Contact voltage from touching an object that is struck (approximately 1-2% of injuries)4) Ground current effect as the energy spreads out across the surface of the earth when lightning hits a distance away from the person (approximately 40-50% of injuries)5) Upward leader that does not connect with the downward leader to complete a lightning channel (approximately 20-25% of injuries)6) Blunt trauma if a person is thrown and barotrauma from being close enough to experience the explosive force of lightning

I'll post a link to some of her work here. Some of it is of course quite complex, but it may give you an appreciation for why we urge you to get to a place of safety when lightning moves into your area.

A sample of links to Dr. Cooper:http://www.uic.edu/labs/lightninginjury/macbio.htmhttp://emedicine.medscape.com/article/770642-overview

Here is the link to the National Weather Service website for Lightning Safety Awareness Week:http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090617_lightning.html

Here are some additional websites so that you can research lightning on your own!Global Hydrology and and Climate Center.. http://thunder.msfc.nasa.gov/

Friday, June 19, 2009

With temperatures soaring well into the 90s this weekend, we may come close to record high temperatures. Saturday is the mostly like day to tie or break a record when afternoon temperatures may reach near 100.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hot and humid conditions are expected Friday and Saturday. Temperatures are likely to top out in the mid to upper 90s, and when combined with high humidity, will produce heat index ('what it feels like') values in the upper 90s to near 100-degrees. People across North Carolina should take precautions to protect themselves, their animals and their neighbors from the heat. This includes staying in / providing a well-ventilated shady area or in air conditioning as much as possible. Drink or provide extra water , and minimize outdoor activities in the afternoon and early evening when temperatures will be hottest.

The ASPCA and other sites have provided information especially for your pets.. available at this link:

I have also provided a 'hot weather' search link with the NC State University Cooperative extension Service. You can find a lot of useful information through your state cooperative extension offices. Here's the NC State link:http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/search/search.php?restrict=www&q=hot+weather+

..and here is a link to the Cooperative Extension Service site for the US..you can click on your state and find information for your specific area:http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

We'll be monitoring for the chance of strong to severe weather tonight and will provide the latest information on forecasted temperatures throughout Father's Day weekend. Tune in to News 14 Carolina and to news14.com

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Heavy downpours Tuesday morning led to swollen creeks and flooded roadways across the Triangle. Some of the heaviest rain fell across Wake County including areas around Cary, Raleigh, and Garner. Here's a look at some of the scenes around those areas submitted by News 14 Carolina viewers.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Soggy and at times stormy weather is expected the next couple of days over North Carolina. Disturbances moving across the state will bring waves of showers and thunderstorms.

Some of the storms that are forecast to develop today could become strong to severe. The Storm Prediction Center has placed a large part of the Carolinas under a slight risk for severe weather.

The strongest storms this afternoon and evening could produce locally heavy rain, frequent lightning, very strong winds, and some hail.

Look for rain to continue off and on tonight and especially Tuesday when rain totals may add up. Much of central and eastern North Carolina could see up to 2 inches of rain over the next couple of days.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for the latest Weather on the Ones updates through the day and night.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Low pressure tracking across the southeast will make for soggy weather Thursday afternoon through Friday. Most estimates show between one and two inches of rain will be possible across much of central and eastern North Carolina during that time. As the rain spreads in Thursday afternoon, locally heavy downpours will be possible. Some spots that receive those heavy downpours may end up with over 2 inches of rain through Friday.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for the latest weather information with our Weather on the Ones updates available every 10 minutes.